NMIFA gets huge turnout

Droves of Saipan’s youngest soccer players reinforced the old adage that “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” yesterday, as the Northern Marianas Islands Football (Soccer) Association fielded forms from entire families during the morning session of the open registration for its inaugural season.

While the volunteers accepted applications and fees from excited players and parents during a morning and an afternoon sessions at the American Memorial Park, more than 100 little kickers signed on the dotted line before the group broke camp for lunch.

“I would say it’s going extremely well—probably better than expected with a lot of people coming in early,” said NMIFA secretary Peter Coleman.

Coleman was one of the individuals who started the call for the sport’s return last year when the Commonwealth Youth Soccer League dropped off of the radar screen, but he was joined by a small army of volunteers and new board members as they sweated out the heat on a sunny day in Garapan. With the new organization in place, Coleman said that he believes that the sport will continue to thrive in the CNMI.

“Last year we had about 160 players (when under the CYSO) and we expect to have in excess of 200 players this year,” he said.

More good news for the local sporting association arrived on Friday night via the information superhighway as Coleman received a lifeline from the southernmost strikers in the Marianas.

“We got an email from the Guam Football Association. They have a professional coach and some players that are coming out here Labor Day weekend on Sept. 3 to run a clinic for the players and then on the next day they are going to hold a clinic for all the coaches and ref’s to certify us,” he said.

Those who missed out on the registration process are still in luck as the sign-up’s continue next Saturday, Aug. 20 at American Memorial Park near the Amphitheater parking lot.

The volunteers for the open registration will be on hand from 10am until 12noon and return at 2pm until 4pm. In order for the players to participate in the NMIFA, they need to be between the ages of four and a half and 16 with interest and enthusiasm as the only prerequisites. The one-time registration fee is $25 per child.

As with any new league, NMIFA need a number of volunteers to help out with almost every aspect, and plans are already underway for a coach/referee clinic to be held next month as well as parents for coaching and officiating. While individuals with a background in the sport are encouraged to pass on their knowledge, training will provided and no experience is necessary.

Once the registration is all taken care of, the teams will take to the sea of green for their first practices on Tuesday afternoon’s at 4:30 pm in the AMP, and the highly anticipated games will be held on Saturday afternoons at 4:30 pm at the same location.